Standard toasters never worked for my sourdough—here's what finally did

Hi, I'm Eva, and I'm a sourdough addict. Whether I'm baking my own loaves or picking one up from a local bakery, I can't get enough of a tangy, airy slice. Fresh sourdough is hard to beat, but after a day or two I always toast it—which is why I've used a long-slot toaster for the past three years.

As a reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, I've tested nearly two dozen toasters over the past five years. Many performed well, but standard models couldn't fit my sourdough slices without awkward flipping or cutting pieces in half.

Once I started testing long-slot toasters, I became a convert

Long-slot toasters are ideal for anyone who regularly buys or bakes artisan bread, sourdough, or other oversized loaves. While you could use a toaster oven, a long-slot toaster takes up less counter space and is specifically designed to accommodate longer slices of bread.

There are two main styles depending on the size of your family and the amount of bread you consume: double-slot and single-slot. Double-slot models can toast two long artisan bread slices or four standard sandwich slices, while single-slot models fit one long artisan bread slice or two standard sandwich slices.

Still not convinced? Here are the pros and cons of a long-slot toaster compared to a standard model.

Pros

✔️ Can fit a variety of bread sizes and lengths

✔️ Can fit two sandwich-size slices in one slot

✔️ Narrow design, which can often feel more compact on your kitchen countertop

✔️ Often with the same settings as standard toasters (defrost, bagel, etc.)

✔️ Available in single- or double-slot models

Cons

• Often a bit more expensive than standard toasters
• Can take up more space lengthwise on your countertop
• Unnecessary purchase if you only toast sandwich-size slices of bread
• Fewer models to choose from compared to standard toasters

How we test toasters in our Lab

We've tested almost 80 toasters in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab in the last 12 years to determine how quickly and evenly they toast bread. This has included dozens of standard toasters, with more and more long-slot models entering the category in the last couple of years.

We evaluate all toasters for everything from ease of use and cleanability to temperature, browning range, and consistency. We also test how evenly they toast both full batches and a single slice, ensuring they deliver reliable results no matter what you're making. We also assess how well each toaster accommodates a variety of breads and settings, then evaluate its durability through months of real-world testing in consumer testers’ homes.

Here are some long-slot models I’d recommend based on testing

Yes, a long-slot toaster might change your sourdough-loving life

While a standard toaster works well for everyday sandwich bread and bagels, a long-slot toaster offers more versatility for artisan loaves, homemade bread, and oversize slices. If you regularly buy or bake sourdough, upgrading means you won't have to cut slices in half or settle for uneven toasting—making it a worthwhile investment for frequent toast eaters.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Eva Bleyer is a reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, where she has tested a wide range of kitchen products over the last five years. She has personally tested almost 20 toasters in the Lab and has been a proud long-slot toaster owner for the last three years.